How stars have rejected their Oscars with controversy

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Actor Marlon Brando caused a stir in 1973 when he refused the award because of the film industry’s lack of diversity involving Native Americans. The academy recognized his performance as Don Vito Corleone in “The Godfather.” Activist Marie Cruz, also known as Sacheen Littlefeather, went onstage in his place wearing a traditional Native American dress. She said Brando could not accept the award.

PHOTO: Wikimedia

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Actress Katharine Hepburn refused to attend nearly every one of the ceremonies, even though she was nominated a dozen times and won four Oscars. In 1974, she broke that routine and attended the ceremony to present an award to producer Lawrence Weingarten. Before introducing him, she said she was “living proof that a person can wait 41 years to be unselfish.”

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Actor George C. Scott won the Oscar for his 1970 performance of Gen. George S. Patton Jr. in “Patton,” but he said he stayed home from the ceremony to watch a hockey game. While the movie’s producer accepted the award in his place, Scott later told the press: “The ceremonies are a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons.”

PHOTO: AP

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Screenwriter Dudley Nichols received an Oscar by mail after he and other stars boycotted the ceremony as part of their push for independent unions in the industry. He sent back the award, for his 1935 screenplay "The Informer," about an Irish rebel, at least one. A Los Angeles Times article said he later kept the statuette after seeing progress for screenwriters.

PHOTO: Andrew Taylor/profilerehab, flickr

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While writer and director Woody Allen has won four Oscars and received 24 nominations, he has almost entirely avoided the ceremonies. He said movies can’t be ranked in contrast to other competitions, such as running, that have definitive winners. He said he appreciated getting track and field awards when he was younger because he knew he deserved them.

Actor Marlon Brando caused a stir in 1973 when he refused the award because of the film industry’s lack of diversity involving Native Americans. The academy recognized his performance as Don Vito Corleone in “The Godfather.” Activist Marie Cruz, also known as Sacheen Littlefeather, went onstage in his place wearing a traditional Native American dress. She said Brando could not accept the award.

PHOTO: Wikimedia

Actress Katharine Hepburn refused to attend nearly every one of the ceremonies, even though she was nominated a dozen times and won four Oscars. In 1974, she broke that routine and attended the ceremony to present an award to producer Lawrence Weingarten. Before introducing him, she said she was “living proof that a person can wait 41 years to be unselfish.”

Actor George C. Scott won the Oscar for his 1970 performance of Gen. George S. Patton Jr. in “Patton,” but he said he stayed home from the ceremony to watch a hockey game. While the movie’s producer accepted the award in his place, Scott later told the press: “The ceremonies are a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons.”

PHOTO: AP

Screenwriter Dudley Nichols received an Oscar by mail after he and other stars boycotted the ceremony as part of their push for independent unions in the industry. He sent back the award, for his 1935 screenplay "The Informer," about an Irish rebel, at least one. A Los Angeles Times article said he later kept the statuette after seeing progress for screenwriters.

PHOTO: Andrew Taylor/profilerehab, flickr

While writer and director Woody Allen has won four Oscars and received 24 nominations, he has almost entirely avoided the ceremonies. He said movies can’t be ranked in contrast to other competitions, such as running, that have definitive winners. He said he appreciated getting track and field awards when he was younger because he knew he deserved them.

Actor Marlon Brando caused a stir in 1973 when he refused the award because of the film industry’s lack of diversity involving Native Americans. The academy recognized his performance as Don Vito Corleone in “The Godfather.” Activist Marie Cruz, also known as Sacheen Littlefeather, went onstage in his place wearing a traditional Native American dress. She said Brando could not accept the award.

PHOTO: Wikimedia

Actress Katharine Hepburn refused to attend nearly every one of the ceremonies, even though she was nominated a dozen times and won four Oscars. In 1974, she broke that routine and attended the ceremony to present an award to producer Lawrence Weingarten. Before introducing him, she said she was “living proof that a person can wait 41 years to be unselfish.”

Actor George C. Scott won the Oscar for his 1970 performance of Gen. George S. Patton Jr. in “Patton,” but he said he stayed home from the ceremony to watch a hockey game. While the movie’s producer accepted the award in his place, Scott later told the press: “The ceremonies are a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons.”

PHOTO: AP

Screenwriter Dudley Nichols received an Oscar by mail after he and other stars boycotted the ceremony as part of their push for independent unions in the industry. He sent back the award, for his 1935 screenplay "The Informer," about an Irish rebel, at least one. A Los Angeles Times article said he later kept the statuette after seeing progress for screenwriters.

PHOTO: Andrew Taylor/profilerehab, flickr

While writer and director Woody Allen has won four Oscars and received 24 nominations, he has almost entirely avoided the ceremonies. He said movies can’t be ranked in contrast to other competitions, such as running, that have definitive winners. He said he appreciated getting track and field awards when he was younger because he knew he deserved them.